One shaky stretch from Kopech dooms White Sox as Yankees take series
Nestor Cortes pitched a career-high eight innings and the New York Yankees took advantage of Michael Kopech's one wild stretch, beating the White Sox 5-1 on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
New York managed just two hits: a second-inning single for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and a two-run homer by Joey Gallo in the ninth. But it was more than enough, thanks to the crafty Cortes (2-1).
Kopech (0-1) pitched six innings of 1-hit ball. The right-hander had five sharp innings - and one real bad one.
New York got to Kopech for 3 runs in the second after he retired the first two batters, making the most of 4 walks, a wild pitch and Kiner-Falefa's single to left. Aaron Hicks and DJ LeMahieu each walked with the bases loaded, and Jose Trevino scored on the wild pitch.
Kopech threw 41 pitches in the second, 17 for strikes. He threw a total of 50 pitches in his other five innings, 33 for strikes.
"He just got out of whack. ... What he did to hang in there and pitch six innings was amazing," White Sox manager Tony La Russa said.
Kopech's shaky stretch provided more than enough run support for Cortes, who retired 15 in a row after Luis Robert extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning single.
Adam Engel homered for the Sox with one out in the eighth, but Cortes retired the next two batters. Pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal flied out to the warning track in right for the second out.
Cortes, the 27-year-old left-hander who carried a no-hitter into the eighth in his previous outing against Texas, allowed 3 hits, struck out 7 and walked none in another brilliant performance. He has permitted 2 runs or fewer in each of his seven starts this year.
Since his first big league outing of last season, on May 30, 2021, Cortes has an AL-low 2.44 ERA over 133 innings. He has allowed 3 runs or fewer in 16 straight starts, matching Luis Severino in 2018 for the second-longest such streak in franchise history.
Clay Holmes finished the 4-hitter for New York's 18th win in 21 games. The major league-leading Yankees took three of four in the series.
Yoan Moncada was out of the starting lineup for the Sox after going 4 for 13 with 2 homers in the first three games of the series. Manager Tony La Russa said it was just a day off, and Moncada was available off the bench.
La Russa also said right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, who is on the IL with COVID-19, is feeling better, but he isn't sure when he will return to the rotation.
Next up for the Sox: an eight-game trip that begins Monday night at Kansas City.